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Winding Stair Mountain National Recreation and Wilderness Area Act

Public Law 100-499 · H.R. 4354 · 100th Congress · began in the House

Signed by Ronald Reagan (R) on Oct 18, 1988 · Public Lands and Natural Resources

Sponsor: Rep. Wes Watkins (D-OK-3)

Cosponsors: None

Passage votes

  • HouseUnanimous consent
  • SenateVoice vote
Data notes

The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.

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Summary

The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.

Winding Stair Mountain National Recreation and Wilderness Area Act - Designates specified lands in the Ouachita National Forest, Oklahoma, as the Black Fork Mountain Wilderness and the Upper Kiamichi River Wilderness, and as components of the National Wilderness Preservation System.

Declares that the RARE II (second roadless area review and evaluation) final environmental statement (dated January 1979) with respect to national forest system lands in Oklahoma shall not be subject to judicial review. Releases national forest system lands in Oklahoma which were reviewed in the RARE II program from further review by the Department of Agriculture. Releases lands in Oklahoma reviewed in the RARE II program and not designated as wilderness from management as wilderness areas. Prohibits the Department of Agriculture from conducting any further statewide roadless area review and evaluation of national forest system lands in Oklahoma without express congressional authorization.

Establishes the Winding Stair Mountain National Recreation Area in the Ouachita National Forest. Sets forth provisions with respect to the management of such Area.

Designates specified lands in the Ouachita National Forest as the Robert S. Kerr Memorial Arboretum, Nature Center and Botanical Area and as the Beech Creek Botanical Area.

Designates certain lands in the Ouachita National Forest as the Indian Nations National Scenic and Wildlife Area and the Beech Creek National Scenic Area. Sets forth provisions with respect to the management of such areas.

Provides that such designated wilderness, national recreation area, national scenic and wildlife area, national scenic area, and botanical areas shall be collectively known as the Winding Stair Mountain National Recreation and Wilderness Area.

Requires the Secretary of Agriculture to submit to the House Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs and the Committee on Agriculture, and the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry a report on the timber management program on such lands in the Ouachita National Forest. Provides that such report shall also include a statement regarding the economic impact of such forest on the timber, tourism, and recreation industries.

Directs the Secretary to establish an advisory committee to provide information and recommendations with respect to such lands.

Sets forth provisions concerning the Ouachita National Forest with respect to: (1) timber management; (2) management planning; (3) tourism and recreation; (4) fire, insects, and disease; (5) grazing rights; (6) fishing and wildlife; (7) permits for use of Winding Stair Mountain National Recreation and Wilderness Area facilities; and (8) land acquisition by the Secretary.

Committees

The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.

Data notes

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Timeline

From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 24 actions.

  1. Oct 18, 1988Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 100-499.
  2. Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
  3. Oct 11, 1988PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
  4. Oct 4, 1988Resolving differencesResolving differences · House Agreed to Senate Amendments by Unanimous Consent.
  5. Sep 30, 1988FloorFloor · Passed Senate in lieu of S. 2571 with an amendment by Voice Vote.
  6. FloorFloor · Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.
  7. CommitteeCommittee · Discharged from Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
  8. Aug 10, 1988CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
  9. Aug 8, 1988FloorFloor · Passed House (Amended) by Voice Vote.
  10. CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Agriculture Committee
  11. Aug 3, 1988CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House Agriculture Committee
  12. Jul 28, 1988CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Forests, Family Farms, and Energy Subcommittee of the House Agriculture Committee
  13. CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Forests, Family Farms, and Energy Subcommittee of the House Agriculture Committee
  14. Jul 26, 1988CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Natural Resources Committee
  15. Jul 13, 1988CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House Natural Resources Committee
  16. Jun 30, 1988CommitteeCommittee · Reported by National Parks and Public Lands Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee
  17. CommitteeCommittee · Markup by National Parks and Public Lands Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee
  18. Jun 29, 1988CommitteeCommittee · Hearings by Forests, Family Farms, and Energy Subcommittee of the House Agriculture Committee
  19. Jun 7, 1988CommitteeCommittee · Hearings by National Parks and Public Lands Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee
  20. May 5, 1988CommitteeCommittee · Referred to National Parks and Public Lands Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee
  21. Apr 11, 1988CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Forests, Family Farms, and Energy Subcommittee of the House Agriculture Committee
  22. Mar 31, 1988CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Agriculture Committee
  23. CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Natural Resources Committee
  24. IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the House
Data notes

Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.

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Official record

The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.